I would welcome input on our NZ 22 day itinerary for my 26 year old daughter (from Chicago) and I (60 from San Antonio). Our interests are photography and nature; and tend to like to take a more leisurely approach staying 2+ nights in most locations to then explore. We would like to do some easy day hikes if it takes us to some beautiful viewpoints.

Oct.11 - Nov 3, 2019:

Day 1 - fly from Chicago to Auckland
Arrive Day 3 (slow day in Auckland to adjust to jet lag)
Day 4: pick up car and drive to Rotorua for 3 nights stay (perhaps see the Waitomo Glow Worms Caves and/or Matamata Hobbiton on the way)
Day 5 & 6: sightsee around Rotorua, the Wai-o-tapu geothermal or other suggestions
Day 7: Drive to Wellington (2 night stay), stopping at Lake Taupo
Day 8: Wellington sightseeing
Day 9: turn in car, Ferry to Picton, then board Coastal Pacific Train (arriving Christchurch at 20:30, 1 night)
Day 10: TransAlpine Train to Greymouth (will see more of Christchurch at end of trip); arrive 14:05, pick up car and drive to Franz Joseph for 2 nights
Day 11: sightsee Franz Joseph or Fox glaciers
Day 12: drive over the pass to Wanaka (3 nights)
Day 13 - 14 easy hikes, sightseeing and 1 day relaxation day in Wanaka
Day 15: Drive to Te Anau (2 night stay)
Day 16: early drive to Milford Sound and take the day cruise
Day 17 - 19: Drive to Queenstown for 3 nights
Day 20 - 21: drive to Mt. Cook for 2 nights
Day 22: Drive to Christchurch (4.5 hrs) and visit Lake Tekapo on the way
Day 23: sightsee @ Christchurch
Day 24: Fly home to USA connecting in Auckland

I appreciate any ideas on the sequence of the trip, scenic drives that we should fit in, or other activities.

Thank you for your help.
SingerCPA from San Antonio, TX

Looks like a nice relaxed itinerary.

Please prepare for all kinds of weather. Spring can be especially fickle, you could get sun, or heavy rain, or even get a surprise dumping of snow in the mountains.

As you are interested in "hikes", "photography and nature", and "beautiful viewpoints"--and if the weather is fine, you might want to use your one day in Auckland to take the ferry over to Rangitoto Island in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf. Will you be arriving in Auckland on Oct. 11 or leaving the U.S. on October 11? If arriving on Oct. 11, you'd also have the option of visiting Tiritiri Matangi Island, which is another island in Hauraki Gulf. Tiritiri Matangi is farther away, so the ferry takes longer and the fare costs more. It would be an all-day trip.
You can read about these two islands here:
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...gitoto-island/
https://www.fullers.co.nz/destinatio...gitoto-island/
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...pen-sanctuary/
https://www.fullers.co.nz/destinatio...atangi-island/

singercpa -

Your itinerary looks pretty good to me too. Just an FYI that we've found the drive over Arthur's Pass to be much more interesting than the train, which goes though some tunnels on the way to Greymouth.

SingerCPA, thinking more about your itinerary, maybe plan on staying a night in Picton after arriving on the Interisland or Bluebridge ferry from Wellington. The main reason I suggest this is because at this time of year, there is a small chance that ferries could be cancelled due to rough weather. So if the ferry doesn't sail as planned, you'll likely be able to sail on the following day. With your current itinerary, if you miss your ferry and can't get out on another one that day, you'll miss your connection to the Coastal Pacific, and your following connection to the TranzAlpine.
Ferry cancellations this last October:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/107...-cancellations

If your ferry sails as planned, then most likely the weather won't be so bad and you'll probably enjoy the Picton area. Picton itself is a cute seaside village, with restaurants, a great bakery, and some nice walking tracks. You'll be there in the off-season without the summer cruise ship crowds, so all the more enjoyable. Picton is also the gateway for walks along and boat trips into Queen Charlotte Sound (part of Marlborough Sounds). Picton is also close to Marlborough Wine country, but as you did not mention wine in your post, I'm thinking this doesn't interest you (but this is a main attraction for many travelers to NZ).
Picton Marlborough New Zealand, Visitor information Guide

FYI: NZ's Labour Day is on Monday, Oct. 28, so this will be a three-day weekend for many. You'll be here in spring, a time of beautiful spring blossoms. Don't miss Wellington's Botanic Garden. Catch the Cable Car to it,then walk down through the gardens back to the city..
https://www.wellingtoncablecar.co.nz/English/Home.html
Christchurch Botanic Garden is one that city's main attractions. Queenstown also has a lovely garden with a lakeside walking track.

While in Queenstown, drive 45 minutes to Glenorchy.
Glenorchy - Queenstown - New Zealand

Read this tips for driving Milford Road:
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...s-for-drivers/